Support for forum theater, organization of public debates and public speaking competitions, use of comic strips and photography, promotion of village discussions, production of web documentaries and community radio programs: for many years, Equipop has placed communication for development (C4D) at the heart of its work.
Since 2017, this approach has taken on a new dimension for Equipop in two areas: promoting the voices of its African partners on the web and supporting the potential of edutainment through a strategic partnership with the Senegalese association RAES.
C4D: What is it?
The acronym C4D stands for Communication for Development and covers a range of different approaches. For Equipop, it is above all a powerful lever for social and political influence that should promote the circulation of accurate information, the emergence of open dialogue, the expression and participation of local actors, and the development of their capacities. The tools and methods used can range from interpersonal communication to community media and modern information technologies.
C4D at the heart of Equipop and its partners' activities
In 2000, Equipop published the comic book "À l'ombre du Baobab" (In the Shadow of the Baobab Tree) in collaboration with some thirty artists from French-speaking Africa with the aim of promoting the rights to education and health. Two years later, it was presented as an exhibition at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, before embarking on a three-year tour of six African countries, organized by local associations and artists. True to its belief that communication is essential to support any long-term social change, Equipop has continued to promote this approach over time. In 2017, it is continuing this work by facilitating the expression of its African partners on the web and exploring the potential of Edutainment alongside RAES.
Giving a voice to the actors and actresses of change on the web
One of the objectives of C4D is to give a voice to local actors and promote their involvement in national dialogue. This is what Equipop has been working on in recent months, collecting testimonials from those who are making a difference in West Africa in terms of access to contraception and the promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). These testimonials have been compiled on the website for the "Generation FP: Together, let's choose the future!" campaign and are being shared on social media. Equipop has also provided technical and financial support to member associations of the Alliance Droits et Santé network to help them develop their presence on social media. Several of them have embraced these new tools (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn) and are using them to spread their messages and raise awareness of their actions.
The power of education through entertainment
Edutainment, or education through entertainment, draws on the power of mass media to encourage behavioral change and foster social dialogue. A television series can be watched by millions of people, challenging certain preconceived ideas, questioning taboos, and touching people emotionally. Series such as Shuga in Nigeria and Soul City in South Africa have demonstrated their impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS. RAES, a Senegalese association, partner of Equipop and member of Alliance Droits et Santé, has embarked on this adventure by producing the series "C'est la vie!" on health, education, and rights, and will soon release the series "Bruits de Tambours" on the theme of citizenship. Equipop has decided to partner with these projects by participating in the scriptwriting process and contributing its expertise on the topics covered. The goal is to ensure that the stories developed are as relevant as possible, mobilizing resources for the development of the web ecosystem around the series and promoting community ownership of the messages.
